I was in the middle of making coffee (my third cup of the day, but who's counting?) when that familiar sound echoed through the apartment.
Ding.
I almost dropped the mug.
The blue screen appeared, floating casually near the refrigerator as if it belonged there.
---
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]
MISSION COMPLETE: Record and publish a professional video on Wetube
REWARD AVAILABLE TO CLAIM
[ Claim Now? ]
---
"Oh!" I said out loud, having almost completely forgotten about the mission in the madness of the last twenty-four hours. "Right! The reward! I totally forgot about that."
I placed my mug on the counter and said, "Claim."
The screen blinked brightly:
---
[ REWARDS GRANTED ]
• Martial Arts Manual: Path of the Iron Body (5 Stars)
• Martial Arts Manual: Path of the Fluid Shadow (5 Stars)
NOTE: Manuals have been added to System Inventory
---
I blinked. "Martial arts? Seriously?"
Another screen appeared, apparently detecting my confusion:
---
[ SYSTEM INVENTORY ]
Available Items:
1. Martial Arts Manual: Path of the Iron Body ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description: Focuses on physical strength and endurance. Practitioners develop dense muscles, strengthened bones, and destructive power. Significantly increases Strength and Endurance. Note: Practitioners tend to develop a more robust and muscular body structure.
2. Martial Arts Manual: Path of the Fluid Shadow ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description: Focuses on speed, agility, and defensive techniques. Practitioners develop supernatural reflexes, graceful movements, and increased longevity. Increases Agility and extends life expectancy. Ideal for evasive combat and stealth.
---
I read the first description and frowned.
"Robust and muscular body structure?" I murmured, my mind immediately picturing a version of myself two meters tall, with a neck thick as a tree trunk, arms the size of logs, looking like I could crush a watermelon between my thighs.
"What the HELL, system!" I practically screamed at the screen. "How exactly would I use that?? I'm a SINGER! Do you want me to get on stage looking like I can snap the microphone in half?? What kind of aesthetic is that for an artist??"
I shook my head violently, trying to shake the mental image. "Nope. Absolutely not. That stays locked away. Forever. Never touching that again."
But the second manual…
I read the description again, more slowly this time.
Speed. Agility. Defense. Increased longevity.
And five stars.
My brain—which had absorbed random information about this world over the past few weeks—remembered the martial arts manual ranking system.
Martial arts manuals were categorized by stars:
1 Star: Basic. Available at any martial arts academy. Gets you to Rank E at most.
2 Stars: Common. Good solid techniques. Can lead to Rank D.
3 Stars: Uncommon. Property of established martial schools. Rank C potential.
4 Stars: Rare. Usually family secrets or master techniques. Rank B possible.
5 Stars: Legendary. Extremely rare. Allows cultivation up to Rank A or beyond. The novel's protagonist had a few of these, of course, because he was a walking hack collector.
And the system had just given me two five-star manuals as if they were supermarket discount coupons.
"Okay," I said slowly. "That's… that's actually incredibly valuable. Like, absurdly valuable."
I looked at the Fluid Shadow description again.
Speed and defense made sense. If I eventually became famous—more famous—I would need to be able to protect myself. And in this world where people could literally break bricks with their bare hands, being able to at least defend myself or run away fast seemed… prudent.
Plus, increased longevity? Extended lifespan? In a world where I was trying to avoid dying miserably like in the original story?
Yes. Yes, please.
"System," I said, "show details about the Path of the Fluid Shadow."
The screen changed:
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[ MANUAL: PATH OF THE FLUID SHADOW ]
Rank: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Type: Physical Cultivation - Speed/Defense
Rank Potential: F → A (Grandmaster potential with dedication)
Benefits:
• Increased Agility
• Enhanced Reflexes
• Evasive Movement Techniques
• Improved Cellular Regeneration
• Extended Longevity (estimated +30-50 years to lifespan)
• Graceful and Elegant Aesthetic Development
Compatibility with Host: 98%
Begin cultivation now?
---
Thirty to fifty extra years of life. Damn.
And "graceful and elegant aesthetic development" sounded infinitely better than "robust and muscular body structure."
"Okay," I took a deep breath. "Let's do this. Begin cultivation."
---
[ INITIATING KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER ]
Please sit in a meditation position.
---
I looked around my tiny apartment. Not exactly the most serene environment for martial arts cultivation, but screw it.
I sat on the floor with my legs crossed, back straight, hands resting on my knees as I'd seen in movies.
"Okay," I said. "I'm ready."
Immediately, that familiar warmth began—but different this time. Not focused on my vocal cords or hands. This was… everywhere.
Knowledge began to flow into my mind, but it wasn't just mental. It was physical.
I could feel the path the energy needed to take through my body. The specific points where it needed to circulate. The breathing patterns that would facilitate the flow.
It was like learning a complex dance, except the dance was happening inside me.
Instructions appeared in my mind, clear as if someone were whispering directly into my brain:
First, you must establish your core. The core is the center of your cultivation—where your Internal Strength resides and from where all energy flows.
Breathe deeply. Feel the air fill your lungs, then sink deeper, deeper, to your center.
There. Do you feel it? That empty point just below your navel? That is where your core will form.
I followed the instructions, my breathing becoming slow and deliberate. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Hold.
Inside. Deeper. Deeper.
I could feel something—a strange sensation of emptiness right where the instructions said. Like a space waiting to be filled.
Now, gather energy. It is everywhere—in the air, in the sunlight, in the earth. Breathe it in. Pull it inside. Guide it to your core.
This sounded kind of woo-woo mystical, but I tried anyway.
I breathed, imagining energy—tiny, bright particles—being pulled in with each inhalation. Guiding them down, down, to that empty point.
At first, nothing happened.
Then, very subtly, I felt… something. Like a slight tingling. A sensation of warmth building up.
Continue. Do not stop. The first core is always the hardest to form.
I kept breathing, focusing, pulling that imaginary energy inside.
The tingling grew stronger. Warmer.
And then, suddenly—
Pop.
Something inside me clicked into place.
As if a switch had been turned on. As if a door that was closed had abruptly opened.
I could feel it now—a small, warm pool of energy right at my center. My core.
It was tiny. Weak. Like a flickering candle compared to a bonfire.
But it was there.
---
[ CORE SUCCESSFULLY FORMED ]
Current Rank: F → E
Internal Strength: Beginner Level
WARNING: Impurity expulsion beginning.
---
"Impurity expulsion?" I repeated. "What—"
And then I felt it.
My pores—all of my pores—suddenly became hot.
And then something started to… come out.
An oily, black substance began to ooze from my skin. Everywhere. My arms, my legs, my face, my hair.
The smell hit my nostrils a second later.
"OH MY GOD," I screamed, jumping to my feet. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
It smelled like… like rotten garbage mixed with sewage mixed with something that had died three weeks ago.
I looked down and almost screamed again.
I was covered in this stinky black goo. It was on my clothes, on my hands, probably on my face.
"System!" I practically sobbed. "You could have WARNED ME!"
A new screen appeared, almost seeming… amused?
---
[ NOTE: Impurity expulsion is a normal process. ]
During cultivation, the body expels accumulated toxins and impurities. This improves overall health and allows for better energy flow.
It is recommended to bathe immediately.
Congratulations on reaching Rank E!
---
"Bathe immediately, no kidding!" I grumbled, stumbling awkwardly toward the bathroom while trying not to touch anything.
I almost slipped on the goo dripping from my legs.
"Nope, nope, nope," I chanted, reaching the bathroom and turning the shower on to the hottest setting.
I literally jumped in still clothed because I wasn't going to touch those disgusting clothes any more than absolutely necessary.
The water turned black instantly, the goo washing off in thick, oily torrents.
I scrubbed. And scrubbed. And scrubbed.
Used half a bottle of soap.
Washed my hair four times.
Finally—finally—the water ran clear.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a towel, feeling simultaneously clean and traumatized.
"Okay," I said to my reflection in the foggy mirror. "That was disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. I smelled like a corpse. Possibly worse than a corpse."
But then I actually looked at myself in the mirror.
And paused.
My skin looked… clearer? As if I'd had the best facial of my life. There wasn't a single pimple or blemish. Even the dark circles under my eyes had diminished.
I flexed my fingers. They felt more responsive. More agile.
I jumped once, experimentally. My feet felt lighter. As if gravity had become a little less insistent.
"Huh," I said. "Okay, so aside from the mega disgusting part, this is actually… kind of good?"
I walked out of the bathroom, dressed in clean clothes (throwing the disgusting ones directly in the trash because no washing was saving those), and checked the system.
---
[ STATUS UPDATED ]
Name: Cassandra (Cass Echo)
Age: 20 Years
Path: Singer
Martial Rank: E
Stats:
Strength: 34 → 38
Agility: 46 → 58
Intelligence: 81
Charm: 78→88
Willpower: 77
Luck: 52→61
Skills:
• Angelic Voice
• Guitar - Expert Level
• Path of the Fluid Shadow (Rank E - Beginner)
---
My Agility had increased by twelve whole points. And my Strength had gone up a bit too.
"Okay," I said, feeling a small wave of pride. "That's… actually pretty cool. Except for the disgusting goo part. We are never speaking of the disgusting goo part."
I walked around the apartment, testing my new… what, mobility? Everything felt a bit easier. Smoother. As if my body was responding faster to my thoughts.
Not dramatic—I was still only at Rank E, after all. But noticeable.
I lay down on the bed and looked at the ceiling.
One hundred and fifty-one thousand views. Rank E in martial arts. A five-star manual in my inventory. A growing channel. Real fans.
"How did my life get so crazy in less than a week?" I asked the ceiling.
The ceiling, wisely, did not answer.